This elegant combination pencil and folding knife is carved of ivory and has a sterling silver (tested) nozzle. The nozzle has all of its parts and the lead advances properly when it's twisted. The condition of the ivory is excellent with no chips or cracks and it has a beautiful old patina and grain pattern. The fold out pen or quill knife is sharp and intact.
The side is marked "S. Mordan & Co. Makers", an 1850-60 mark for this well known company. It measures 4 3/4" long....$115.00

This little antique clamp is made of ivory and smoothly carved with concentric circles on the end. A green silk pincushion sits on the top. This style of clamp was made in China for English export in the early 19th century.
The condition is excellent with no chips, cracks or other damage and the screw holds securely. The silk cushion is also in excellent condition. It measures about 3 1/8" tall with the screw half way in as shown. A very similar clamp is shown on p. 178 of Gay Ann Rogers' book "An Illustrated History of Needlework Tools"....$125.00

This antique cotton or thread barrel is carved of real ivory with smooth sides and turned bands. The top is inset with a circle of maroon leather. The bottom unscrews and inside is a post to be wrapped with thread. There's a hole in the side to feed the thread through. Turning the top winds the thread back in. The condition is excellent with no chips or cracks and everything screws together well. The patina and ivory grain are exceptional and it's all original.
It would have graced an English workbox of the late 18th or early 19th century. It measures 1 1/4" high and the top is 1 1/8" in diameter. Many of the Regency workboxes of this er...$35.00

This special set of steel crochet hooks is in wooden box that had been veneered with real natural tortoise shell. The interior top edges are veneered with ivory and ivory forms the shelf that holds the hooks. The handle is carved of ivory and has a metal mechanism on the end that the steel crochet hooks fit into. It then screws down to secure them and it works well. The 8 steel hooks are all rust free with strong, intact hooks.
The case is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks or other damage and the tortoise has beautiful patterns. The push button mechanism opens well and snaps closed perfectly. With a hook in place, the crochet ...$225.00

This pretty little Victorian emery is carved of real ivory with turned concentric circles on both sides. It has a pale blue silk cushion (intact and original) and is stuffed with emery powder. The ivory is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks or other damage. It measures 1" in diameter. Nerylla Taunton shows similar ones in mother of pearl on p. 138 of her book "Antique Needlework Tools and Embroideries".
Emeries were used to sharpen and polish the steel needles of the age. Emery powder is a fine grit and the needles were pushed in and out the cushion several times. It also removed rust....$85.00

This beautiful tatting shuttle is carved of ivory and has a lovely old patina and grain pattern. It was made in China for English export in the early 19th century. It measures 2 5/8" long by 1 1/8" wide and was probably made for a sewing workbox.
Both sides are deeply carved with Chinese figures on a landscape background featuring buildings, foliage and rocks. The condition is excellent with no chips or other damage and the points are intact. A similar example is shown on p. 84 of Nerylla Taunton's book "Antique Needlework Tools and Embroideries"....$195.00